The S&P 500 in 1979
The S&P 500 rose 12.3% in 1979, from 96.11 to 107.94; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.5%. That ranks 1979 48th-best of the 98 complete calendar years since 1928.
- Price return
- +12.3%
- Total return
- +18.5%
- Deepest decline in the year
- −10.3%November 7, 1979
- Year-end close
- 107.94December 31, 1979
- Highest close
- 111.27October 5, 1979
- Lowest close
- 96.13February 27, 1979
- Record closes
- 0
- Trading days
- 253
- Best day
- +2.1%September 20, 1979
- Worst day
- −3.0%October 9, 1979
- Shiller CAPE in January
- 9.3
How 1979 unfolded
The highest close of the year was 111.27 on October 5, 1979; the lowest was 96.13 on February 27, 1979.
The deepest fall from a peak within the year was −10.3%, bottoming on November 7, 1979.
No close set a new all-time high.
The best session was September 20, 1979 (+2.1%); the worst was October 9, 1979 (−3.0%).
No month of 1979 falls inside an NBER-dated recession.
The Shiller CAPE stood at 9.3 in January 1979.
Drawdowns that touched 1979
| Drawdown | Peak → trough | Decline | Back at the record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Shock and Stagflation | January 11, 1973 → October 3, 1974 | −48.2% | July 17, 1980 |
Every decline of 5% or more from a record close that was under way, or still being recovered, during 1979.
What $10,000 at the start of 1979 became
$10,000 invested in the S&P 500 at the start of 1979, with dividends reinvested, grew to $2,356,910 by the end of 2025: 12.3% a year. On price alone, without dividends, it came to $712,175.
FAQ
What was the S&P 500 return in 1979?
The S&P 500 rose 12.3% in 1979, from 96.11 to 107.94; with dividends reinvested, the total return was +18.5%.
How far did the S&P 500 fall in 1979?
Its deepest peak-to-trough decline within 1979 was −10.3%, reaching bottom on November 7, 1979.
Was 1979 part of a bear market?
No. No decline of 20% or more from a record close was under way in 1979.
Did the S&P 500 hit a record high in 1979?
No. The index never closed above its previous record in 1979.
Data and sources
Daily closes · Calendar-year price returns · Calendar-year total returns · Intra-year declines · Drawdowns from record closes · Shiller CAPE · NBER recession months (via FRED)
Index levels are daily closes. Price return leaves dividends out; total return reinvests them. A past year's page changes only when a later year completes and the rankings move.